I’ve made it to become an author!

First of all, thank you for being a reader of my column. I am grateful for the support you have given me over the years. Your comments, emails, shares and telephone calls keep this space alive.

Now, let me say without any rambling, I am more excited to share the good news that I have become an author. Even though I have been part of several publications, it’s for the first time that I penned a book. Of course, there is a co-author.

My excitement is more because the event marking the release of the book came after my months-long ordeal with coronavirus infection. It was a period of anxiety and desperation! Besides health problems, the microbe had robbed me of my peace of mind and all the more my personal freedom.

But I was incredibly blessed that I won the battle for survival.

Let me stress that Covid-19 is nothing to play with. A lot of people don’t make it. I was one of the lucky ones! No words can express how grateful I am to the Almighty and all of you!

Now I feel like I’ve started over again. I don’t worry about the happenings of the past. The bitterness of the past is gone now. I’ve started enjoying life everyday right now. And the book, the event that saw its release and the drizzle of positive comments make me more enthusiastic.

I am grateful and blessed that the book — Oman-India Ties Across Sea and Space — came at an important time in my journalistic career that covers a span of over two decades in the Sultanate alone.

The book, a tribute to the people of Oman and India is believed to be the first of its kind that brings together historical accounts of the rich historical relationship between the two great civilisations which go back to more than 5,000 years.

The concept of the book came from the inspiration of seeing the developments in Oman and understanding of the depth in the centuries-old relationship between the two countries. Facilitated by physical proximity and long standing cultural ties, India and Oman share a deep cultural and commercial geography which has also led to influences in popular culture as well as literary and linguistic heritage.

It is a celebration of the close ties of India with Oman, going back to the prehistoric past, enriched in the present with ties which are strategic, economic and scientific, but also familial, educational and cultural.

Since the time Omanis started navigation activities and reached Indian seaports, there has been a protracted history of interactions between the two countries, which have contributed to lasting imprint on both cultures.

I cannot forget to mention that there have been several officials in various ministries both in Oman and India, the Editor in Chief and my colleagues at Oman Daily Observer, the Indian Ambassador and other staff at the embassy, citizens and residents, participated in the book by providing me with their views, interviews, photographs and other support.

I thank all of them for sharing their memories as well as their vision for the future of relations between Oman and India.